Red Flows the Sirannon Planning/Discussion Thread

[Durelin]

Pio - I'm still in the process of *digging up* some players, so hopefully, I will have a strong player who can take a fairly active role as a Lindon Elf soon.

And, of course...absolutely beautiful bio.

Please add Nurumaiel to the list of people that may post on this thread, as I'll be working with her concerning what kind of character she'll be playing as soon as possible. Thanks.

And the last piece of business for now is that I'm still waiting to hear back from Gwydion...

Now, to get working on that bio and first post... I meant to do that yesterday, but I ended up being at my grandmother's all day. Excuses, excuses, I know.



-Durelin

[piosenniel]

Leaving this post in simply as a post space holder.

Carry on!

~*~ Pio

[Firefoot]

Here's my character bio; I've included a carry-along to be my character's companion.

~*~*~*~

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES - Which ones? Bloodstained Elanor, Seekers of Truth, Siege of Gundabad, Sailing Away

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? Two

List them, please: Island of Sorrow, Shadow of the West

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Firefoot's character

NAME: Grimkul

AGE: He’s not really sure – all years tend to run together in dark tunnels under the mountains - nor does he care. But even if he did care, it wouldn’t matter much since he can’t count much higher than 20.

RACE: Orc

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Grimkul’s favorite weapon is a long, slightly curved scimitar which he hasn’t ever cleaned, more out of laziness than any other reason, though he does pride himself on the different kinds of blood the sword bears: Elf, Dwarf, Man, Orc, rat (and other rodent), fish, bat, and once he was even lucky enough to spear a bird. He has a wooden bow, on which is scratched all kinds of crude symbols and marks; his arrows are fletched in black feathers. He also has a short dagger and a heavy wooden cudgel, useful for bashing in heads and squashing things.

APPEARANCE: Grimkul is of a smaller mountain race, though he is rather large for that, with comparatively broad, albeit hunched, shoulders and tough wiry muscles. He is bowlegged. He has dark, splotchy skin, and what sparse hair he does have is coarse and black. His yellow eyes are accustomed to the dark and bulge out of his misshapen skull. His teeth are yellow and crooked, and not a few are missing; his fingernails are similarly yellowed and tough. His only armor is a chain mail coat, over which he wears dark breeches and a jerkin made mostly of bats’ wings crudely sown together.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Grimkul is not very intelligent and, if confused, is more likely to kill the source of confusion than try to sort the information out. The notable exception is his more intelligent companion Ulwakh; their relationship being a mutually beneficial “brains/brawn” type. Grimkul tends not to back down from a fight even when his chances at winning are considerably slim, whether because he is too stupid to realize this or doesn’t care is undecided. Luckily he is larger, stronger, and more skilled in weapon use than most of his kind. He dislikes being among the legions of Sauron’s army and would prefer to go back to the mountain tunnels in the Misty Mountains. Nor does he bear any love toward his commanders (who are generally bigger than he is), and, largely at Ulwakh’s bidding, avoids their notice whenever possible.

HISTORY: Grimkul was born in the Orc tunnels of the Misty Mountains and has spent most of his life there. This part of his life was basically uneventful: he survived off the creatures sharing the tunnels with him, fought in some small battles between Orc clans, and sometimes ventured out of the mountains in small raiding parties (always at night) to harry any living things unfortunate enough to be in the area. Several years back, however, he was part of a raiding party that had gone farther than usual from their mountain tunnels and had a run-in with a small force of Sauron’s. Those that survived (including Grimkul and Ulwakh) were driven to Mordor and integrated into Sauron’s army.

~*~*~*~

Carry-along character – Grimkul’s companion Ulwakh.

NAME: Ulwakh

AGE: About the same as Grimkul, though he could probably give a more precise answer, as he understands numbers and such better – he could probably count to 50, and if he thought about it would be able to tell you that they were at least that old.

RACE: Orc

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Ulwakh’s first two weapons, a scimitar and bow, are similar to Grimkul’s. His favorite weapons, however, are a variety of crooked knives with jagged edges, no two alike. These are useful for throwing, stabbing, cutting, and other more ordinary purposes (e.g. cooking, should he ever care to cook), but more interesting to him are the different ways each can provide pain. Ulwakh does not enjoy killing and fighting so much, but he finds giving pain fascinating, and his knives are useful for this.

APPEARANCE: Similar to Grimkul in complexion, though little else. He is much smaller and less strong, and his arms and legs are proportionately longer. His skull is rounder; his eyes are deeper set and an almost luminescent green color. His garments are also similar to Grimkul, except he is far less choosy in the materials for his jerkin and he wears a helmet as an extra piece of armor.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Ulwakh is quite intelligent and cunning (for an Orc, that is). He is quick and agile, though not particularly strong or prone to fight. He prefers to flee rather than fight, though he can ably defend himself (or Grimkul can defend him; it’s all the same to Ulwakh). He takes a perverse delight in giving pain, and while his subjects are usually small animals that he catches, he prefers such rarer subjects as Elves and Dwarves when he has had the fortune of a captive. Ulwakh has no desire of personal power, as he generally sees leadership roles as a good way to get killed (by followers), and in further self-preservation he draws as little attention to himself as possible.

HISTORY: About the same as Grimkul.

[piosenniel]

Anyone noting an "edited by piosenniel" on their post - I'm just setting up the Bios for transfer to what will be the game's discussion thread.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do we have some sort of consensus from the players or preference by Durelin for the name of the RPG?

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Everyone

Please start to get your CHARACTER BIOS onto this Planning Thread --- SOON

NOTE:

If you need to make changes to your BIO - do it directly to your original BIO post and then alert me with a new post that you've done so (yes, I read every one of them . . .)

Also, if you need to do a FIRST POST for your character - place it at the bottom of your original BIO post - and again alert me with a new post that you've done so.

~*~

Durelin

Which characters need First Posts for the game submitted - Everyone?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[piosenniel]

Bringing this forward:

Please remember: only these people may post to the thread at present -


Just check the First Post to this thread for the list of names

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Arestevana]

Just checking in...
This is going to be an awesome game.
Esgallhugwen and Nurumaiel, it's great to be role-playing with you again.

[Durelin]

Please add Evinyatar to the list of players.

And in response to what Aman has addressed, I will have the prologue up ASAP, which begins with some major setting up in about 1590. If I can ever get my bio fully completed , I'll post it with that. And that will very soon!

[piosenniel]

Here's the list of preferences for the game title:

• Farewell to the Elvensmiths - Aman
• Siege of Eregion
• Sack of Ost-in-Edhil
• Doom of the Mírdain - Enca; Durelin; Firefoot
• Red Flows the Sirannon - Pio; Firefoot; Durelin; Folwren

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A prologue to place the RPG within its historical setting is a great idea. And has been done before in different ways for other Shire games.

The only thing that concerned me was actually starting the game play at the forging of the Rings and continuing on to the flight of the refugees with Elrond to found Imladris. If played in depth, as I'm hoping this game will be, it would simply be too ponderously long.

If the other game with Child and Durelin comes to life it will be really interesting to see our characters in their heyday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome, Envinyatar! I'll put your name on the posting list.

~*~ Pio

[Envinyatar]

Looking forward to playing in this game.

I'll take one of the Elves of Lindon characters. Will get the bio up early next week.

- E -

[Folwren]

Alright, here is my character... Since this is my first RPG, I can't promise that I'll be doing everything right. If anything's obviously wrong or out of place, please, anybody, just PM me and let me know.

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?
No.

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? None...since the Green Dragon doesn't count.

List them, please:

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES/NO - you must have posted in the Green Dragon Inn or played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs in order to play in this game. Yes...once.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Folwren's character

NAME: Bror Stonecut

AGE: 64 (45 years younger than his brother Riv, and 40 years younger than Skald)

RACE: Dwarf – one of Durin’s Folk/Longbeard clan

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: When hand to hand in combat, so to speak, he uses a short, shafted axe with a wide axe head on one side and on the other, a four inch, sharp spike. When out of range, he enjoys the use of smaller, lighter axes which he has learned to throw rather accurately, and when out of that sort of fighting range altogether, he has an excellent hand with a small bow.
Iron and leather helm, long and short sleeved chain mail, thick, leather vest.

APPEARANCE: Somewhat short next to his brothers, four feet eight inches, and still small in build and stature, maybe making 110 pounds. (Okay, pause here, if this is too light, then tell me. I'm trying to figure out the stature of a small, young dwarf, but Tolkien, as far as I can tell, never gives you weights, and all I have to go by in comparison is my little brother, who's two inches taller than Bror, but is only 65 lbs.) His hair is brown with a hint of red in it, barely long enough to braid in the back, and his beard isn't long enough at all, though it does reach his collar.
Boots that come to his knees, and a green cloak and hood over all.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Unlike his two older brothers, Bror has something of a quick and fierce temper, but it can generally be settled down before too long, and is without a great store of patience. Any real anger that stays and burns quietly is difficult to waken, though he does have his limits. He is, however, pretty easily befriended and on the most part is cheerful.

Change doesn't bother him very much and he loves the sort of adventure of going out and slaughtering orcs, having learned to hate their very name (perhaps he took the stories a little too personally and to extremes). He takes particular interest in the making of weapons - axes, swords, arrow tips, and what ever else - though he doesn't have the patience to make armor, or chain mail. He managed to get an apprenticeship with an Uncle, a sword smith, and he works with him when he's not out with his two brothers on a scouting party.
Whatever time he does not spend at the smithy, or in a scout troup, he often uses on learning how to play the harp. The instrument that he plays is one that his mother's great grandmother crafted, and is a beatiful instrument. Most people are surprised that he has been able to continue playing and learning without loosing interest, but music seems to mean something to him, although he can never quite put it into words. He would not call himself very good at it, though he is better than some.

He holds a certain respect for his older brothers and almost nothing can make him angry faster than an insult sped their way. He also is rather protective of the rest of his family. He loves his sister-in-law and Riv's young son and was very much disappointed when they were taken back to the safer caves.

His main weakness is not staying focused on the job at hand and letting his mind wander...and his next main one would be getting mad too fast. (Hopefully Riv will be there to calm him down when he needs it.)

HISTORY: Assuming that this is the year II 1697, Bror was born in 1633 in Moria, then called Khazad-dûm, if I am not mistaken. As often as he could when he was a youngster he would find the smiths that made weapons and armor and would watch them until someone came to fetch him back home again. He hasn't seen much of the outside world, still being young, but he intends to, in time.

------------------------------------------------------------

Folwren's post

Bror sat silently, plucking with less heart at his harp as he watched Riv take his wife and son away. They passed from the room out of sight and he sighed and tilted his head a little towards the smooth wood of his instrument. He lifted a second hand and once again the chords sang sweetly, though somewhat sadly.

“I wish they didn’t have to go back there every night. We hardly see them anymore,” he said quietly. A hand clapped him on the back and he looked up over his shoulder at Skald, his older brother.

“Cheer up and put the harp away, we’ve got business to discuss.”

Bror got up from the table and took his harp away a few paces and set it on a chair, possibly to be picked up later. He returned and took his seat again as Skald rose and gathered mugs and a skin of ale to wet their throats while they talked.

He had just sat down again when their Uncle Orin entered. A smile came into Bror’s face and he got up again.

“Good evening, Uncle!” he said. “Take that chair, and I’ll get another...How are you?”

The general formalities were swiftly dealt with and for a minute, the three of them sat together in silence. Bror could not stand that for long. What they had to talk about had to do with orcs, and of all creatures, he thought he hated those the most.

“What do you know of this business, Uncle?” he asked, turning to Orin. “I don’t know how much you have heard.”

“I know no more than the little I have heard from gossip,” Orin replied.

“That’s probably not very much, since there is little known,” Bror said. “All that I’ve been told, and I hope that I hear more tonight,” he added casting a glance towards Skald, “is that a company of dwarves are needed at the East Gate to escort a number of elves through Kazad. War’s brewing, evidently, and though we’ve only heard whispers of it, they are getting louder and the rumors are taking shape into ravenous villains who need slaughtering. It’s rather serious, by all accounts.”

Orin lowered his head towards his mug and Bror and Skald both turned their ears towards him to catch the words he muttered to his ale.

“How have I been in the dark for so long?”

“Because you’re always locked up in your room working on who knows what!”

The three dwarves at the table turned quickly to see Riv walking towards them. He gave them a smile as he passed and got himself another mug from the cupboard and a second skin of ale. He came back to the table and pulled a chair up next to Orin, filled their mugs and then his own, held it between his two hands and looked at them seriously.

“Well, what have I missed?” he asked immediately. “We’re taking a full complement of weapons...yes? No telling how long it might take the Elves to make their way down the Stairs and cross the valley. Or what might try to follow them.” A pause while he took a deep drink of his ale. “There have been reports of Orcs sniffing about the Kheled-zaram. Or so I heard.” He banged the metal mug down on the table’s top almost violently and Bror started slightly. “Love to set my mattock in a few of their skulls and pick out what passes for brains among the filthy creatures,” he said, giving his youngest brother a grim smile.
“Yesssss!” Orin exclaimed with evident excitement and obvious agreement. Bror shifted his eyes from his brother to his uncle.

“So, this is more serious than I imagined. I had no idea you all hated those orcs as much as I did. You were always the ones telling me to calm down and quit shouting that I’d kill a whole regiment.” He turned his dark eyes back to his oldest brother. “Is that what we’re going to do?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Folwren]

Thank you very much for allowing me to join. I hope I don't end up messing stuff up, but I'm trusting people to tell me when I'm going wrong.

If anything in the bio looks wrong, let me know and I'll reconsider.

And if no one's noticed, I'm pretty nervous, but very much excited, about this. (I'm just afraid of appearing like a fool.)


-Folwren

[piosenniel]

That looks great, Folwren!

You'll see an 'edited by piosenniel' on your post - I'm setting it up for transfer to the game's general discussion thread when we open for play.

I've also put a place for your First Post to the game at the end of your BIO post. Once I've done my first post - you can follow its lead.

Again, welcome aboard!

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Dwarves --

Well, I've done my post - here.

Let's have the Dwarves discuss what they've heard; when they want to leave to pick up the Lorien Elves; and how armed they should be and take what precautions, etc.

It's about 40 miles according to Gandalf from the West gate of Moria(the Eregion side) to the East-gate where the Mirrormere is and where the Elves from Lorien will enter. I have Riv's quarters about 10 miles from the West-gate - so we have @ 30 miles to traverse. Once we get there we should probably scout about the entrance to clear the area of any unwanted creatures. What do you think?

An aside thought: I doubt the Dwarves actually know about the 3 Rings made by the Elves. I'm sure they know about the gift of the Ring of Power given to their King (by Celebrimbor as recounted by the Dwarves, not Sauron), Durin III, but most likely don't have all the details. And knowing Dwarves, Durin III has no doubt squirreled it away somewhere in his private treasure hoard rather than wear it.

~*~ Pio

[Boromir88]

Wonderful first post Piosenniel, and those sound like good ideas to me.

I had a question as well, do you just want us to put our first postsin our bios, or in another post?

[Kath]

Has it been decided as to what is going on with the orcs? Do we need to make first posts?

[Firefoot]

Hm... according to the Member's List, Encai hasn't logged on for two weeks (25th of June), nor did she ever say anything about an absense in her recent posts. Might anyone know how to contact her...?

[piosenniel]

Firefoot

Enca's PM's are full and I don't have another way to contact her - so my suggestion is that you and Kath go ahead and make the plans for now, and her character can follow along when she returns.

~*~ Pio

[Arry]

I'm working on my post and will try to have it up by tomorrow sometime. I'll check in to see if Boro or Folwren have written theirs as I go along and try to fit mine in as needed.

-- Arry